N-CSR 1 fp0081036-1_ncsr.htm

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-CSR

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

Investment Company Act file number: 811-22545

 

CENTRE FUNDS

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

48 Wall Street, Suite 1100, New York, New York 10005

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

James A. Abate

48 Wall Street, Suite 1100

New York, New York 10005

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 918-4705

 

Date of fiscal year end: September 30

 

Date of reporting period: October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022

  

 

 

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

 

(a)

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  PAGE
SHAREHOLDER LETTER 1
PORTFOLIO UPDATE 6
Centre American Select Equity Fund 6
Centre Global Infrastructure Fund 8
DISCLOSURE OF FUND EXPENSES 10
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS 11
Centre American Select Equity Fund 11
Centre Global Infrastructure Fund 13
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES 15
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 16
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS 17
Centre American Select Equity Fund 17
Centre Global Infrastructure Fund 18
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 19
Centre American Select Equity Fund 19
Centre Global Infrastructure Fund 21
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 23
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM 31
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 32
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS 33
 
 

Centre Funds Shareholder Letter
  September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders,

 

It is with pleasure that we publish the Centre Funds’ Annual Report covering the one-year period ended September 30, 2022. We want to thank our fellow shareholders for their continued support and confidence in the Centre Funds. The Centre Funds offer a select series of fundamentally-driven, actively managed funds to choose from, each available in investor and institutional share classes. We are passionate about active management.

 

Our aim at Centre Funds is to deliver strong, long-term performance results for investors through an exceptional focus on producing returns and managing risk and downside volatility in select investment strategies. We want investors to associate Centre Funds with high-conviction, differentiated fund strategies that may not be available elsewhere and are tactical, pragmatic, and opportunistic. Each Fund’s investment strategy aims to capitalize on defined market opportunities with consistent methodology and repeatable investment processes to achieve differentiated returns and risk profiles. We remain focused on fundamentally-driven investment approaches within truly active, high conviction, disciplined and research-intensive processes. At Centre Funds, we place service excellence at the core of everything that we do and are committed to providing useful information on the Funds.

 

Centre American Select Equity Fund

 

The Fund is a U.S. large capitalization valuation sensitive capital appreciation stock fund that seeks long-term growth of capital and is focused on risk adjusted returns through active and pragmatic management; the Fund may complement its equity securities with hedges and other capital preservation strategies when deemed appropriate. The Fund is intended to be a risk managed core equity fund.

 

Centre Global Infrastructure Fund

 

The Fund pursues a bottom-up, active management approach and invests in what we deem the most attractive listed infrastructure-related companies from the United States and developed international economies. Also, the Fund seeks to balance its exposures to where the weights of the Telecommunication, Utilities, Energy, Transportation, and Social Infrastructure industries are broadly represented. The Fund’s objective is to seek long-term growth of capital and current income, and distributes dividend and interest income monthly.

 

Funds’ Performance

 

Centre American Select Equity Fund

 

For the one-year period ended September 30, 2022, the Centre American Select Equity Fund, Investor Share Class, delivered a total return of 1.23%; and the Institutional Share Class delivered a total return of 1.78%1. During the same one-year period, the key barometer of the U.S. stock market, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, delivered a total return (loss) of -15.50%.

 

The strongest contributors to performance within the Fund over the one-year period ended September 30, 2022, included the Fund's investments within the Energy sector: EQT, APA, Chevron, and Exxon Mobil; and the Materials sector: CF Industries, ATI, Mosaic, and Corteva. In general, stock selection contributed positively to relative performance, particularly within the Materials sector, while sectoral biases, particularly our overweight posture in Energy, contributed positively as well. Stock investments that contributed negatively to relative Fund performance over the period included Altria, Pilgrim's Pride, Alibaba, Tesla, PVH, Berkshire Hathaway, Wabtec, and Kraft Heinz.

 

Centre Global Infrastructure Fund

 

For the one-year period ended September 30, 2022, the Centre Global Infrastructure Fund, Investor Share Class, delivered a total return (loss) of -10.77%; and the Institutional Share Class delivered a total return (loss) of -10.51%2 with the trailing annual dividend distribution yield of 3.14%3. During the same one-year period, as a comparison, the S&P Global Infrastructure Index delivered a total return (loss) of -6.72%.

 

During the period, shares providing the strongest contribution to the Fund's performance included within the Energy sector: Cheniere Energy and Williams; and within the Utilities sector: EDF, CK Infrastructure Holdings, Sempra Energy, and Consolidated Edison; and within the Communications sector: T-Mobile. Stocks that contributed negatively to Fund performance included Softbank Group, Vodaphone, Targa Resources, Cellnex, TC Energy, IPG Telecomm, and HCA Healthcare.

 

1  Disclosure: Past performance does not guarantee future results.
2  Disclosure: Past performance does not guarantee future results.
3  Source: Morningstar

 

Annual Report | September 30, 2022 1
 
 

Centre Funds Shareholder Letter
  September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

Market Review & Outlook

 

The past one year can be best summarized for active equity managers as one where it was necessary to emphasize an underlying portfolio seeking to benefit from the gains of certain sectors and individual stocks, while trying to buttress against broad stock market indices falling. A key issue for us in our stock selection and portfolio construction processes is to try to understand how much of a company’s stock price is driven by company-specific factors versus sector and/or market influences. At the portfolio level when the benefits of (just enough but not too much) diversification are added, it’s important to attempt to distinguish between company specific and external risk opportunities or headwinds in totality. On the surface, it’s pretty straightforward; idiosyncratic risk refers to inherent risks exclusive to a company while systematic risks refer to broader trends that could impact the overall market or sector. In general, the more concentrated a portfolio, the greater the opportunity and risk from idiosyncratic events. That said, systematic events like war and inflation leading to the sudden rise of interest rates, amongst other macro events, contributing to overall risk aversion, have dominated not only the headlines but have been the main drivers of performance for market indices over the past year. In fact, as markets have remained volatile in the Fall of 2022 as systematic concerns have risen, we’ve witnessed the correlative relationship of all stocks increase. Despite the dominance of macro and systematic risk, we continue to believe that our bottom-up focus which allows flexibility to search for the best opportunities within the universe of large-capitalization equity securities is most consistent with financial theory, empirical evidence, and the current environment, unlike a compartmentalized equity style approach.

 

Anyone who has studied finance, especially investment analysis, knows that the systematic risk from the stock market can impact the performance of any company’s stock. The Sharpe single-index market model4 developed during the early 1960s captures the “beta” sensitivity of a company’s stock return to movements in the market as a whole and provides a risk foundation (albeit an incomplete one) for understanding the expected rate of return on individual stocks and portfolios. In addition to the market pull on common stocks, studies by James Farrell, Jr., Barr Rosenberg, and Vinay Marathe during the 1970s point to the impact of systematic non-market factors on company stock performance, namely sector and industry influences. Taken together, the presence of external influences on stock prices, as well as operating performance as measured by our preferred metric, economic value added (EVA)5, is apparent and evident for groups of companies with similar financial characteristics and have correlated earnings and stock returns, particularly those within the more commodity-oriented sectors such as energy, financial, and utilities6. Over the past year, a bias towards energy and materials whilst underweighting the communication services and technology sectors was a key determinant of relative success. In equity style terms, segments within value outperformed growth segments. However, other traditional value sectors such as financials and real estate underperformed the S&P 500 Index, highlighting the shortfalls of a simplistic compartmentalized equity style or top-down rotational factor driven approach.

 

A key benefit of looking at companies from an EVA perspective is that it provides an investor with meaningful information about why a bias towards a company as well, in some cases, a cluster of companies, leading to a sector over or underweight, may be justified. In the EVA approach, bottom-up investment fundamentals come first while equity styles per se are secondary. Specifically, fundamentals for stock selection, portfolio construction, and risk control should be driven by EVA fundamentals such as margins, capital efficiency, etc., the considerations that drive security prices. Such a synthesized EVA approach is neither growth nor value, it is “true value” based on useful financial information, rather than accounting driven, and consistency of approach in the purest sense. The biases to energy and materials for us as the Adviser to the Funds was driven by the fact that, after a long period of wealth destruction in these sectors with inefficient and excessive capital investment, we saw a longer-lasting supply constraint put in place and recognition by company managements that they will get rewarded from a stock price perspective by investors for strengthening their balance sheets, being disciplined with capital spending and no longer growing for growth’s sake, producing free cash flow, and returning a lot of that cash to shareholders. Quite simply, with supply static or decreasing and cyclical demand increasing and reverting to pre-pandemic normalized levels, the favorable, in terms of price, oil and gas market could continue to last much longer than many people believe. The same remains true in many agricultural-related industries. In terms of infrastructure-related sectors, high barriers to entry for example in the pipeline and gas-powered production industries combined with outright bans on new construction by many governments further moves the demand and supply equilibrium outward leading to higher prices as units of production and capacity only increase nominally. All of this results in higher sales growth from rising prices that leads to operating leverage and margin expansion as a key driver of current and future positive EVA momentum and stock price performance. Furthermore, business models within most energy and materials industries have been successfully recalibrated to prioritize free cash flows and debt reduction leading to a reduction in financial risks from cyclicality, even a pronounced downturn from a recession. In fact, a recession will likely only perpetuate the period of under-investment in hydrocarbon and agricultural industries, keeping supply and demand equilibrium further out on the pricing curve for longer.

 

Having managed equity funds during the 1990s and post dot.com bubble era, we continue to believe that the years 2000-2002 analog holds the most similarity to the current environment. To repeat ourselves from our prior Shareholder Letter (please see Centre Funds’ Semi-Annual Report March 31, 2022), the unwinding of the unprecedented misallocation of capital investment over the past decade away from real durable assets and towards intangible asset only companies with, in most cases, ridiculously excessive valuations, very high replacement risk from substitution, and negligible societal benefit, still has significant persistence and the recent shift away from certain investment themes, namely so-called disruptive technologies, will not be transitory. Furthermore, the recency bias that favors nearer events over older historic ones has most analysts seeking insights from the 2008-2009 global real estate and financial crisis rather than the dot.com bust. An important distinguishing characteristic of that 2008-2009 period but sometimes overlooked in the financial media was that the misallocation of capital investment leading up to this more recent crisis was not confined to tangible real estate and excessive balance sheet leverage in the financial sector but also included the energy and resources industries that underwent a period of excessive investment to feed the growing industrialization of China in the mid-2000s. Thus, when a global recession occurred, those sectors suffered significantly from prior excesses. Today, the capital misallocation has been concentrated in intangibles and quote un-quote intellectual capital. The downside is that the wholesale destruction from the wealth effect this cycle will be as intense as it was during the dot.com bust but the inflationary declines emanating from excessive tangible capacity coming online preceding the 2008-2009 recession in the energy and resources industries is not evident today and will not provide the disinflationary benefit to interest rates. So, the risks from a stagflationary environment that we alerted to our Funds’ shareholders more than two years ago, is likely to persist with yet unknown ramifications.

 

4  A Simplified Model for Portfolio Analysis, William F. Sharpe, Management Science, Vol. 9, No. 2 (Jan. 1963),
5  Economic Value Added (EVA) is an estimate of a company’s economic profit. Economic profit, which refers to the profit earned by a company minus the cost of financing the company’s capital, is an amount that may be considered in the assessment of a company’s overall value.
6  Focus on Value: A Corporate and Investor Guide to Wealth Creation, Book by James A. Abate and James L. Grant, originally published: October 25, 2001.

 

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Centre Funds Shareholder Letter
  September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

Recognizing that the performance of the Funds and the market indices will be influenced by the three principal effects: 1) systematic or pervasive market risk that impacts all stocks, 2) a residual return effect due to systematic non-market influences, principally sector and industry driven, and 3) idiosyncratic or the company specific return effect of real investment decisions made by the firm’s management, we’d like to address our Outlook through the lens of each one in isolation.

 

Our outlook for the systematic market risk that impacts all stocks is more nuanced than the simple relationship most articulated by the financial media and many analysts as it relates to interest rates, namely the TINA argument, which is an acronym for "there is no alternative." It is often used by investors to justify robust performance by stocks on the grounds that other asset classes, in particular bonds, offer lower returns as expressed by low current yields. The popular Fed Model7 is a market timing tool for determining whether the U.S. stock market is fairly-valued and is based on an equation that simply compares the earnings yield of the S&P 500 with the yield on 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds. Of course, all else being equal means low or a decline in interest rates should boost valuation multiples given that price-to-earnings ratios are simply the inverse of the cost of equity capital. What’s less recognized by the proponents of TINA and the Fed Model is that the cost of capital also includes a premium for risk and supports our belief that a rigorous evaluation of systematic stock market conditions requires a keen understanding of the interaction between all components of the overall equity cost of capital or discount rate, namely, not only interest rates but the non-diversifiable portion of the equity risk premium required by an investor for owning risky stocks over treasury securities.

 

We count ourselves amongst those surprised by the sharpness in the increase of interest rates this year, even with our higher than consensus inflation outlook. While we expected that interest rates would (should) increase meaningfully, we were skeptical about the Federal Reserve’s resolve believing the political will to allow materially rising interests costs on the Federal debt to crowd out social, military, and other service expenditures would take a back seat to tight monetary conditions. Now that inflation is priority one across most of the electorate, we have tempered our dovish view on future Federal Reserve actions regarding a pivot on policy. Hotter than expected US inflation numbers for both the core and headline measures likely means no letup by the Federal Reserve and dramatically lowers the idea of a Fed pivot, at least until economic conditions worsen materially and/or political priorities change.

 

For theoretical and empirical reasons, investors must be careful not to confuse a change in bond yield (or interest rate) with a change in the required return or cost of capital as the simplistic Fed Model does. In principle, sometimes offsetting bond yield and equity risk premium changes can leave the rate unchanged. That is, in order for the required return on equity to rise (meaning lower valuation multiples) in the presence of, say, a rise in interest rates, we must presume there is no offsetting reduction in the equity risk premium8. When thinking about market-wide or systematic risk and consistent with our post dot.com environment being most analogous to today’s, we recall the bursting of the Nasdaq bubble, the recession of 2001, 9/11, and accounting scandals. Such an event-driven post dot.com period resulted in a rising and relatively high equity risk premium, although not necessarily higher than that observed during the 1970s, which saw negative events such as oil shocks, Watergate, and a dollar crisis. At the very least, we would expect that the equity risk premium today will continue to rise and stay at elevated levels like it did between 2001 and 2005 with a possible further increase, depending on the path of what appears to be the first sovereign debt bubble bursting in 100 years, except this time it’s happening in the developed West, as well as potential escalation of the war in Ukraine, and other noteworthy events. In essence, the harmful impact of rising interest rates on valuation multiples now may be compounded by a companion rise in the non-diversifiable component of the equity risk premium leading to a further de-rating of valuation multiples. High beta and passive index strategies, which depend on a low cost of capital environment, seem destined for further pain in a world of heightened risk and uncertainty.

 

7  The Fed model was created by Ed Yardeni, a financial economist. The Feds stock valuation represents a market tool used in determining whether the U.S stock market is fairly valued. The Fed model maintains that there is a bullish trend in the market if the S&P 500 earnings yield is higher than the yield on the U.S 10-year bonds. The reverse is the case when the U.S 10-year bonds yield is higher than the S&P 500 earnings yield. It means there is a bearish market.
8  Understanding the Required Return Under New Uncertainty - Emphasizing the equity risk premium. James A. Abate, James L. Grant and Chris Rowberry. The Journal of Portfolio Management, Fall 2006.

 

Annual Report | September 30, 2022 3
 
 

Centre Funds Shareholder Letter
  September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

While the vast majority of sector rotation strategies are top-down driven, using economic or stock market cycle research however laggardly the information, we remain highly differentiated in that we use the abundance or dearth of bottom-up ideas to dictate, subject to portfolio construction and risk rules that we employ, the level of exposure that the American Select Equity Fund has to each sector. Companies are evaluated on their absolute and relative attractiveness against the entire investable universe and, secondarily, against their industry peers. Our fundamental selection process for distinguishing better companies is based on 1) the return on capital (operating condition); 2) the required return or cost of capital (equity risk profile); and 3) the growth rate of invested capital, which points to favorable EVA growth when the return on capital is greater than the cost of capital. So, when applying our analysis over the past year, a significant shift that we observed and implemented within the American Select Equity Fund was deterioration in the fundamentals for several basic materials industries: chemicals, base metals, iron ore, and wood products leading to the Fund exiting several positions. On the other hand, companies linked to agriculture have fundamental momentum remaining strong such as is the case with Corteva and CF Industries. What we’re trying to highlight in demonstrating the fundamental pragmaticism of our EVA approach is that simply overweighting the basic material sector is taking a back seat to a more discerning stock selection emphasis. Within energy, we have selectively reduced existing positions as stock price appreciation accelerated at a faster pace than fundamental improvement for certain companies resulting in us trimming and, in some cases, eliminating selective stock positions. The largest sectoral shift for us over the past year was driven by increased emergence of opportunities within the health care sector, most notably within established biotechnology companies such as Biogen, Gilead, and Amgen, as well as consumer staples, Altria, Archer Daniels Midland, and Pilgrim’s Pride. Another observation by us noted above has been that the correlative relationship between individual stocks and the market has risen as the bear market has continued. However, the shift of the American Select Equity Fund towards sectors, i.e., health care and staples that, historically, have the lowest degree of return correlation to the S&P 500 Index9 by default, means a higher degree of idiosyncratic risk and companies that are less influenced by a pervasive market effect, potentially allowing greater alpha opportunities.

 

We continue to believe that now is one of the more challenging market outlooks during our careers as recent inflation data will likely reinforce the view that the Federal Reserve is going to continue raising interest rates into an excessively levered system with high inventories and sharply slowing consumer demand leading to recession. This is coupled with rising geopolitical risks from war and an election in the U.S. where deep domestic societal divisions remain and are unlikely to heal. Despite the current challenges, we believe opportunities exist away from beta, or the systematic market risk that impacts all stocks and, when deemed tactically advantageous, we will continue to complement underlying equity securities with hedges and other capital preservation strategies in order to further dampen the negative impact from downside beta. In the American Select Equity Fund, we continue to emphasize sector opportunities in energy and materials (agricultural industries), and more idiosyncratic risk-oriented companies that are less influenced by a pervasive market effect in the health care and consumer staples sectors. In sum, a portfolio designed to benefit from what we expect to be continued global shortages in commodities, and to be relatively defensive in an environment of recession in the U.S. In the Infrastructure Fund, diversification across regions and developed countries as well as being balanced across the Telecommunication, Utilities, Energy, Transportation, and Social Infrastructure sectors should aid in returns and risk management. We believe our disciplined high-conviction approach to stock selection, with a cognizance of risk management, seems positioned to perform well relative to less risk aware and less historically appreciative strategies.

 

Sincerely,

 

James Abate

President, Centre Funds

 

9  Focus on Value: A Corporate and Investor Guide to Wealth Creation, Book by James A. Abate and James L. Grant, originally published: October 25, 2001.

 

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Centre Funds Shareholder Letter
  September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

Definitions and References

 

1. A valuation multiple measures some aspect of a company’s financial well-being, determined by dividing one metric by another metric.
2. Diversification is a risk management strategy that mixes a wide variety of investments within a portfolio. A diversified portfolio contains a mix of distinct asset types and investment vehicles in an attempt at limiting exposure to any single asset or risk.
3. Macroeconomics is a branch of economics that studies how an overall economy—the markets, businesses, consumers, and governments— behave. Macroeconomics examines economy-wide phenomena such as inflation, price levels, rate of economic growth, national income, gross domestic product (GDP), and changes in unemployment.
4. Bottom-up investing is an investment approach that focuses on analyzing individual stocks and de-emphasizes the significance of macroeconomic and market cycles. In other words, bottom-up investing typically involves focusing on a specific company's fundamentals, such as revenue or earnings, versus the industry or the overall economy.
5. Top-down investing is an investment analysis approach that focuses on the macro factors of the economy, such as GDP, employment, taxation, interest rates, etc. before examining micro factors such as specific sectors or companies.
6. Value investing is an investment strategy that involves picking stocks that appear to be trading for less than their intrinsic or book value.
7. Growth investing is an investment style and strategy that is focused on increasing an investor’s capital. Growth investors typically invest in growth stocks—that is, young or small companies whose earnings are expected to increase at an above-average rate compared to their industry sector or the overall market.
8. The price-to-earnings ratio is the ratio for valuing a company that measures its current share price relative to its earnings per share (EPS). The price-to-earnings ratio is also sometimes known as the price multiple or the earnings multiple.
9. The S&P 500 is an index of 500 stocks seen as a leading indicator of U.S. equities and a reflection of the performance of the large cap universe, made up of companies selected by economists.
10. The Nasdaq 100 is a stock market index made up of 101 equity securities issued by 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq stock market. It is a modified capitalization-weighted index.
11. The S&P Global Infrastructure Net Total Return Index is designed to track performance of the stocks of large infrastructure companies in developed or emerging markets that must be domiciled in developed markets, or whose stocks are listed on developed market exchanges around the world. The Index includes companies involved in utilities, energy and transportation infrastructure, such as the management or ownership of oil and gas storage and transportation; airport services; highways and rail tracks; marine ports and services; and electric, gas and water utilities.
12. A risk premium is the return in excess of the risk-free rate of return an investment is expected to yield; an asset's risk premium is a form of compensation for investors who tolerate the extra risk, compared to that of a risk-free asset, in a given investment.
13. The risk-free rate of return is the theoretical rate of return of an investment with zero risk. The risk-free rate represents the interest an investor would expect from an absolutely risk-free investment over a specified period of time.
14. Economic Value Added (EVA) is an estimate of a company’s economic profit. Economic profit, which refers to the profit earned by a company minus the cost of financing the company’s capital, is an amount that may be considered in the assessment of a company’s overall value.
15. Stagflation refers to an economy that is experiencing a simultaneous increase in inflation and stagnation of economic output.
16. The financial crisis of 2007-2008, also known as the global financial crisis, was a severe worldwide financial crisis. Excessive risk-taking by banks combined with the bursting of the United States housing bubble caused the values of securities tied to U.S. real estate to plummet, damaging financial institutions globally, culminating with the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers on September 15, 2008, and an international banking crisis.
17. The dotcom bubble was a rapid rise in U.S. technology stock equity valuations fueled by investments in Internet-based companies during the bull market in the late 1990s. The value of equity markets grew exponentially during this period, with the technology-dominated Nasdaq index rising from under 1,000 to more than 5,000 between the years 1995 and 2000. Things started to change in 2000, and the bubble burst between 2001 and 2002 with equities entering a bear market.
18. Passive investing is an investment strategy to maximize returns by minimizing buying and selling. Index investing in one common passive investing strategy whereby investors purchase a representative benchmark, such as the S&P 500 index, and hold it over a long time horizon.
19. A put option is a contract giving the owner the right, but not the obligation, to sell a specified amount of an underlying security at a pre- determined price within a specified time frame. This pre-determined price that buyer of the put option can sell at is called the strike price.
20. Alpha is a term used in investing to describe an investment strategy’s ability to beat the market, or its “edge”.
21. “FAANG” is an acronym that refers to the stocks of five prominent American technology companies: Facebook (FB), Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), Netflix (NFLX); and Alphabet (GOOG) (formerly known as Google).
22. Idiosyncratic risk refers to the inherent factors that can negatively impact individual securities. Idiosyncratic risk can generally be mitigated in an investment portfolio through the use of diversification.
23. Beta is a concept that measures the expected move in a stock relative to movements in the overall market. A beta greater than 1.0 suggests that the stock is more volatile than the broader market, and a beta less than 1.0 indicates a stock with lower volatility.
24. Systematic market risk refers to the risk inherent to the entire market or market segment. Systematic risk affects the overall market, not just a particular stock or industry.

 

Annual Report | September 30, 2022 5
 
 

Centre American Select Equity Fund Portfolio Update
  September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

SECTOR WEIGHTINGS    
As a percentage of Net Assets
     
Energy   22.06%
Health Care   17.44%
Materials   15.73%
Information Technology   14.20%
Consumer Staples   10.18%
Communication Services   6.53%
Consumer Discretionary   5.98%
Financials   3.08%
Purchased Index Options   2.35%
Real Estate   1.43%
Other   1.02%
Totals   100.00%

 

These allocations may not reflect the current or future positions of the portfolio.

 

GROWTH OF HYPOTHETICAL $10,000 INVESTMENT THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

 

 

 

This graph assumes an initial investment of $10,000 at December 21, 2011, the inception date for Investor Class shares, which have the longest period of annual returns, and that any dividends and distributions are reinvested. This graph depicts the performance of the Fund's Investor Class versus the S&P 500® Total Return Index. Taxes on Fund distributions or when shares are redeemed, if any, are not reflected. Unlike the Fund, an index is not available for investment, is unmanaged and does not have expenses that affect the results. The comparison is shown for illustrative purposes only. The line graph above shows the performance of Investor Class shares only, since the Investor Class has the longest period of annual returns. The performance of the Institutional Class shares will differ from the performance shown because the Institutional Class shares have different expenses than the Investor Class shares.

 

TOTAL RETURNS – FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

 

 

   1 Month   6 Month   YTD   1 Year   3 Year Average Annualized   5 Year Average Annualized   10 Year Average Annualized   Since Inception* Average Annualized 
Centre American Select Equity Fund – Investor Class   -7.69%   -19.55%   -8.55%   1.23%   17.55%   12.73%   11.67%   12.49%
S&P 500® Total Return Index   -9.21%   -20.20%   -23.87%   -15.47%   8.16%   9.24%   11.70%   12.51%
Centre American Select Equity Fund – Institutional Class   -7.70%   -19.39%   -8.22%   1.78%   18.13%   13.27%       11.10%
S&P 500® Total Return Index   -9.21%   -20.20%   -23.87%   -15.47%   8.16%   9.24%       10.04%

 

*Inception date of December 21, 2011 for Investor Class. Inception date of January 21, 2014 for Institutional Class.

 

The performance information quoted above represents past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results, and does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Total return includes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, if any. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For the most current month-end performance data, please call 855-298-4236.

 

The investment adviser to the Fund, Centre Asset Management, LLC (the “Adviser” or “Centre”), has contractually agreed to reduce its advisory fees and/or reimburse other expenses of the Fund for not less than one year and until the next following effective date of the post-effective amendment to the registration statement of Centre Funds relating to the Fund (on or about January 29, 2023) to the extent necessary to limit the total operating expenses of the Fund including (but not limited to) investment advisory fees of the Adviser, but excluding, as applicable, any front-end or contingent deferred sales loads, taxes, leverage interest, distribution/service (Rule 12b-1) fees, shareholder services fees, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, and extraordinary expenses (such as litigation and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund's business) to an annual rate of 1.10% of the average daily net assets of the Investor Class shares and 0.90% of the average daily net assets of the Institutional Class shares (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”). The Expense Limitation Agreement may be terminated at any time, and without payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”), on behalf of the Fund, upon 60 days' written notice to the Adviser, but may not be terminated by the Adviser without the consent of the Board. No recoupment will be made more than three years after the date that the applicable amount was initially waived or reimbursed by the Adviser, and the recoupment may not cause the Fund to exceed the then-existing expense limitation for that class at the time such waiver or reimbursement was made.

 

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Centre American Select Equity Fund Portfolio Update
  September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

The S&P 500® Total Return Index is a commonly recognized, market-capitalization weighted index of 500 widely held securities, designed to measure broad U.S. equity performance.

 

You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

Annual Report | September 30, 2022 7

 
 

Centre Global Infrastructure Fund Portfolio Update
  September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

INDUSTRY WEIGHTINGS
As a percentage of Net Assets
     
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels   30.85%
Diversified Telecommunication Services   17.39%
Electric Utilities   15.78%
Wireless Telecommunication Services   11.61%
Multi-Utilities   6.45%
Gas Utilities   4.60%
Transportation Infrastructure   4.54%
Health Care Providers & Services   4.37%
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers   1.40%
Construction Materials   1.34%
Diversified Telecommunications   0.62%
Water Utilities   0.55%
Cash and Cash Equivalents   0.50%
Totals   100.00%

 

COUNTRY WEIGHTINGS    
As a percentage of Net Assets
     
United States   56.78%
Canada   13.92%
Japan   10.68%
Spain   3.48%
Australia   2.76%
Germany   2.40%
Great Britain   2.09%
Italy   1.91%
Hong Kong   1.54%
Ireland   1.34%
France   1.28%
New Zealand   0.70%
Singapore   0.62%
Other   0.50%
Totals   100.00%

 

These allocations may not reflect the current or future positions of the portfolio.

 

GROWTH OF HYPOTHETICAL $10,000 INVESTMENT THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

 

 

This graph assumes an initial investment of $10,000 at January 29, 2018, the Fund’s inception date, and that any dividends and distributions are reinvested. This graph depicts the performance of the Fund versus the S&P Global Infrastructure Index. Taxes on any Fund distributions or when shares are redeemed, if any, are not reflected. Unlike the Fund, an index is not available for investment, is unmanaged and does not have expenses that affect the results. The comparison is shown for illustrative purposes only.

 

TOTAL RETURNS – FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

 

 

   1 Month   6 Month   YTD   1 Year   3 Year Average Annualized   Since Inception Average Annualized (January 29, 2018) 
Centre Global Infrastructure Fund – Investor   -10.99%   -16.05%   -11.97%   -10.77%   -2.33%   -0.04%
Centre Global Infrastructure Fund – Institutional   -11.05%   -15.96%   -11.79%   -10.51%   -2.06%   0.26%
S&P Global Infrastructure Index   -11.84%   -16.72%   -10.66%   -6.72%   -0.91%   0.75%

 

 

The performance information quoted above represents past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results, and does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Total return includes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, if any. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For the most current month-end performance data, please call 855-298-4236.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its advisory fees and/or reimburse other expenses of the Fund for an initial period of not less than one year and until the next following effective date of the post-effective amendment to the registration statement of Centre Funds relating to the Fund (on or about January 29, 2023) incorporating the Fund's financial statements for that fiscal year to the extent necessary to limit the total operating expenses of the Fund, including (but not limited to) investment advisory fees of the Adviser, but excluding, as applicable, any front-end or contingent deferred sales loads taxes, leverage interest, distribution/ service (Rule 12b-1) fees, shareholder services fees, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, and extraordinary expenses (such as litigation and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund's business) to an annual rate of 1.25% of the average daily net assets of the Investor Class shares and 1.10% of the average daily net assets of the Institutional Class shares. The Expense Limitation Agreement may be terminated at any time, and without payment of any penalty, by the Board, on behalf of the Fund, upon 60 days' written notice to the Adviser, but may not be terminated by the Adviser without the consent of the Board. No recoupment will be made more than three years after the date that the applicable amount was initially waived or reimbursed by the Adviser, and the recoupment may not cause the Fund to exceed the then-existing expense limitation for that class at the time such waiver or reimbursement was made.

 

8 centrefunds.com
 
 

Centre Global Infrastructure Fund Portfolio Update
  September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

The S&P Global Infrastructure Net Total Return Index is designed to track performance of the stocks of large infrastructure companies in developed or emerging markets that must be domiciled in developed markets, or whose stocks are listed on developed market exchanges around the world. The index includes companies involved in utilities, energy and transportation infrastructure, such as the management or ownership of oil and gas storage and transportation; airport services; highways and rail tracks; marine ports and services; and electric, gas and water utilities.

 

You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

Annual Report | September 30, 2022 9
 
 

Centre Funds Disclosure of Fund Expenses
  September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

The Example. As a shareholder of a series of Centre Funds (each series, a “Fund” and together, the “Funds”), you will incur two types of costs:

(1) transaction costs, including any applicable redemption fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees (if applicable) and other Fund expenses. The following examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in a Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested on April 1, 2022 and held through September 30, 2022.

 

Actual Expenses. The first line under each class of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period 04/01/2022-09/30/2022” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes. The second line under each class of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on each Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in a Fund and to other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds. Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as redemption fees, if any. Therefore, the second line under each class of the table below is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

   Beginning Account Value 04/01/2022   Ending Account Value 09/30/2022   During Period Expense Ratio(a)   Expenses Paid 4/1/2022-9/30/2022 (b) 
Centre American Select Equity Fund                
Investor Class                
Actual  $1,000.00   $805.00    1.46%  $6.61 
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)  $1,000.00   $1,017.75    1.46%  $7.39 
Institutional Class                    
Actual  $1,000.00   $806.60    0.98%  $4.44 
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)  $1,000.00   $1,020.16    0.98%  $4.96 
Centre Global Infrastructure Fund                    
Investor Class                    
Actual  $1,000.00   $839.50    1.57%  $7.24 
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)  $1,000.00   $1,017.20    1.57%  $7.94 
Institutional Class                    
Actual  $1,000.00   $840.40    1.18%  $5.44 
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)  $1,000.00   $1,019.15    1.18%  $5.97 

 

 

(a) Annualized, based on the Fund's most recent fiscal half year expenses less any waivers/reimbursements.
(b) Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half year (183), divided by 365.

 

10 centrefunds.com
 
 

Centre American Select Equity Fund Schedule of Investments
  September 30, 2022

 

   Shares   Value 
COMMON STOCKS (96.63%)        
Communication Services (6.53%)        
Entertainment (1.97%)        
Walt Disney Co.(a)   71,545   $6,748,840 
           
Interactive Media & Services (4.56%)          
Alphabet, Inc., Class A(a)   66,631    6,373,255 
Alphabet, Inc., Class C(a)   61,802    5,942,262 
Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A(a)   24,386    3,308,693 
         15,624,210 
Total Communication Services        22,373,050 
           
Consumer Discretionary (5.98%)          
Automobiles (2.10%)          
Tesla, Inc.(a)   27,063    7,178,461 
           
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (3.05%)          
Amazon.com, Inc.(a)   92,543    10,457,359 
           
Specialty Retail (0.83%)          
The Home Depot, Inc.   10,326    2,849,356 
           
Total Consumer Discretionary        20,485,176 
           
Consumer Staples (10.18%)          
Beverages (1.44%)          
Coca-Cola Co.   43,679    2,446,898 
PepsiCo, Inc.   15,220    2,484,817 
         4,931,715 
           
Food & Staples Retailing (1.75%)          
Sysco Corp.   84,581    5,980,723 
           
Food Products (3.89%)          
Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.   79,405    6,388,132 
Pilgrim's Pride Corp.   301,800    6,947,436 
         13,335,568 
           
Household Products (0.95%)          
Procter & Gamble Co.   25,657    3,239,196 
           
           
Tobacco (2.15%)          
Altria Group, Inc.   182,495    7,369,148 
           
           
Total Consumer Staples        34,856,350 
           
Energy (22.06%)          
Energy Equipment & Services (1.70%)          
Schlumberger Ltd.   162,323    5,827,396 
           
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (20.36%)          
APA Corp.   173,921    5,946,359 
Chevron Corp.   86,656    12,449,867 
Coterra Energy, Inc.   203,641    5,319,103 
EQT Corp.   254,545    10,372,709 
Exxon Mobil Corp.   162,355    14,175,215 
Peabody Energy Corp.(a)   282,054    7,000,580 
Range Resources Corp.   368,543    9,309,396 

 

   Shares   Value 
Energy (continued)        
The Williams Cos., Inc.   180,533   $5,168,660 
         69,741,889 
Total Energy        75,569,285 
           
Financials (3.08%)          
Banks (1.58%)          
Bank of America Corp.   73,169    2,209,704 
JPMorgan Chase & Co.   30,536    3,191,012 
         5,400,716 
           
Diversified Financial Services (1.50%)          
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B(a)   19,294    5,151,884 
           
Total Financials        10,552,600 
           
Health Care (17.44%)          
Biotechnology (8.21%)          
AbbVie, Inc.   18,989    2,548,514 
Amgen, Inc.   35,739    8,055,570 
Biogen, Inc.(a)   34,815    9,295,605 
Gilead Sciences, Inc.   133,278    8,221,920 
         28,121,609 
           
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (2.67%)          
Medtronic PLC   113,190    9,140,093 
           
Health Care Providers & Services (3.01%)          
Cardinal Health, Inc.   80,833    5,389,944 
UnitedHealth Group, Inc.   9,775    4,936,766 
         10,326,710 
           
Pharmaceuticals (3.55%)          
Eli Lilly & Co.   8,312    2,687,685 
Johnson & Johnson   27,297    4,459,238 
Merck & Co., Inc.   27,740    2,388,969 
Pfizer, Inc.   59,817    2,617,592 
         12,153,484 
Total Health Care        59,741,896 
           
Information Technology (14.20%)          
IT Services (1.58%)          
Mastercard, Inc., Class A   8,551    2,431,391 
Visa, Inc., Class A   16,804    2,985,231 
         5,416,622 
           
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (0.97%)     
NVIDIA Corp.   27,237    3,306,299 
           
Software (5.22%)          
Microsoft Corp.   76,759    17,877,171 
           
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals (6.43%)     
Apple, Inc.   159,469    22,038,615 
           
Total Information Technology        48,638,707 
           
Materials (15.73%)          
Chemicals (9.51%)          
CF Industries Holdings, Inc.   90,431    8,703,984 
Corteva, Inc.   219,870    12,565,571 
FMC Corp.   52,074    5,504,222 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.  
Annual Report | September 30, 2022 11

 
 

Centre American Select Equity Fund Schedule of Investments
  September 30, 2022

 

   Shares   Value 
Materials (continued)        
International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.   63,862   $5,800,585 
         32,574,362 
Metals & Mining (6.22%)          
Allegheny Technologies, Inc.(a)   310,625    8,265,731 
Newmont Mining Corp.   175,113    7,359,999 
Sibanye Stillwater, Ltd.   606,737    5,654,789 
         21,280,519 
Total Materials        53,854,881 
Real Estate (1.43%)          
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (1.43%)
Vornado Realty Trust   211,453    4,897,252 
Total Real Estate        4,897,252 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $311,171,817)        330,969,197 

 

Expiration Date  Exercise Price   Contracts   Notional Value   Value 
PURCHASED OPTIONS (2.35%)
Puts                
S&P 500® Index:                    
12/15/2022  $3,350    860   $308,363,320    8,053,900 
                     
Total Puts                  8,053,900 
                     
TOTAL PURCHASED OPTIONS                    
(Cost $4,847,221)                  8,053,900 

 

   7-Day Yield   Shares   Value 
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS (0.83%)            
Money Market Fund (0.83%)            
First American Treasury Obligation   2.447%   2,837,735    2,837,735 
                
TOTAL SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS               
(Cost $2,837,735)             2,837,735 
                
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (99.81%)               
(Cost $318,856,773)            $341,860,832 
Other Assets In Excess Of Liabilities (0.19%)             645,105 
NET ASSETS (100.00%)            $342,505,937 

 

(a) Non-income producing security.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.  
12 centrefunds.com

 

 

Centre Global Infrastructure Fund Schedule of Investments
  September 30, 2022

 

   Shares   Value 
COMMON STOCKS (99.50%)        
ASIA (16.30%)        
Australia (2.76%)        
Health Care Providers & Services (0.51%)          
Ramsay Health Care, Ltd.   4,446   $162,898 
           
Transportation Infrastructure (2.25%)          
Transurban Group   90,362    713,255 
           
Total Australia        876,153 
           
Hong Kong (1.54%)          
Gas Utilities (1.54%)          
Kunlun Energy Co., Ltd.   680,000    491,181 
           
Total Hong Kong        491,181 
           
Japan (10.68%)          
Diversified Telecommunication Services (1.34%)          
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.   15,800    426,413 
           
Gas Utilities (3.05%)          
Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.   33,200    501,452 
Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.   27,600    467,406 
         968,858 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (6.29%)          
KDDI Corp.   38,400    1,125,760 
SoftBank Corp.   34,600    345,809 
SoftBank Group Corp.   15,500    524,770 
         1,996,339 
Total Japan        3,391,610 
           
New Zealand (0.70%)          
Electric Utilities (0.70%)          
Mercury NZ, Ltd.   69,776    222,586 
           
Total New Zealand        222,586 
           
Singapore (0.62%)          
Diversified Telecommunications (0.62%)          
Singapore Telecommunications, Ltd.(a)   105,800    195,946 
           
Total Singapore        195,946 
           
TOTAL ASIA          
(Cost $5,888,972)        5,177,476 
           
           
EUROPE (12.50%)          
France (1.28%)          
Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.70%)          
Orange SA   24,449    221,593 
           
Transportation Infrastructure (0.58%)          
Getlink SE   11,961    186,444 
           
Total France        408,037 
   Shares   Value 
Germany (2.40%)        
Diversified Telecommunication Services (2.40%)          
Deutsche Telekom AG   44,458   $762,142 
           
Total Germany        762,142 
           
Great Britain (2.09%)          
Multi-Utilities (0.90%)          
National Grid PLC   27,628    287,194 
           
Wireless Telecommunication Services (1.19%)          
Vodafone Group PLC   334,607    377,788 
           
Total Great Britain        664,982 
           
Ireland (1.34%)          
Construction Materials (1.34%)          
CRH PLC   13,073    424,761 
           
Total Ireland        424,761 
           
Italy (1.91%)          
Electric Utilities (0.85%)          
Enel SpA   65,225    270,013 
           
Transportation Infrastructure (1.06%)          
Atlantia SpA   15,117    334,975 
           
Total Italy        604,988 
           
Spain (3.48%)          
Diversified Telecommunication Services (1.31 %)      
Cellnex Telecom SA(b)(c)   6,259    195,003 
Telefonica SA   67,132    222,115 
         417,118 
Electric Utilities (1.51%)          
Iberdrola SA   51,158    480,415 
           
Transportation Infrastructure (0.66%)          
Aena SME SA(a)(b)(c)   1,987    208,172 
           
Total Spain        1,105,705 
           
TOTAL EUROPE          
(Cost $4,820,042)        3,970,615 
           
NORTH AMERICA (70.70%)          
Canada (13.92%)          
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers (1.40%)          
Northland Power, Inc.   15,200    445,101 
           
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (12.01%)          
Enbridge, Inc.   56,751    2,104,308 
Pembina Pipeline Corp.   18,204    552,966 
TC Energy Corp.   28,734    1,157,390 
         3,814,664 
See Notes to Financial Statements.  
Annual Report | September 30, 2022 13

 

 

Centre Global Infrastructure Fund Schedule of Investments
  September 30, 2022

 

   Shares   Value 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.51%)          
Rogers Communications, Inc., Class B   4,187   $161,284 
           
Total Canada        4,421,049 
           
United States (56.78%)          
Diversified Telecommunication Services (11.63%)          
AT&T, Inc.   98,234    1,506,909 
Verizon Communications, Inc.   57,613    2,187,566 
         3,694,475 
Electric Utilities (12.72%)          
American Electric Power Co., Inc.   4,149    358,681 
Constellation Energy Corp.   2,410    200,488 
Duke Energy Corp.   6,431    598,211 
Edison International   3,108    175,851 
Eversource Energy   2,807    218,834 
Exelon Corp.   7,983    299,043 
NextEra Energy, Inc.   16,695    1,309,055 
The Southern Co.   8,706    592,008 
Xcel Energy, Inc.   4,465    285,760 
         4,037,931 
Health Care Providers & Services (3.85%)          
HCA Healthcare, Inc.   6,657    1,223,490 
           
Multi-Utilities (5.55%)          
Consolidated Edison, Inc.   2,815    241,414 
Dominion Energy, Inc.   6,790    469,257 
DTE Energy Co.   1,603    184,425 
Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.   4,173    234,648 
Sempra Energy   2,709    406,188 
WEC Energy Group, Inc.   2,535    226,705 
         1,762,637 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (18.85%)          
Cheniere Energy, Inc.   6,833    1,133,663 
Kinder Morgan, Inc.   84,134    1,399,990 
ONEOK, Inc.   14,059    720,383 
Peabody Energy Corp.(a)   24,706    613,203 
Range Resources Corp.   18,099    457,181 
Targa Resources Corp.   5,971    360,290 
The Williams Cos., Inc.   45,447    1,301,148 
         5,985,858 
Water Utilities (0.55%)          
American Water Works Co., Inc.   1,351    175,846 
           
Wireless Telecommunication Services (3.63%)          
T-Mobile US, Inc.(a)   8,589    1,152,386 
           
Total United States        18,032,623 
           
TOTAL NORTH AMERICA          
(Cost $20,577,403)        22,453,672 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $31,286,417)        31,601,763 
   7-Day Yield   Shares   Value 
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS (0.39%)            
(0.39%)               
First American Treasury Obligation   2.447%   124,232   $124,232 
                
TOTAL SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS               
(Cost $124,232)             124,232 

 

   Value 
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (99.89%)     
(Cost $31,410,649)  $31,725,995 
Other Assets In Excess Of Liabilities (0.11%)   33,771 
NET ASSETS (100.00%)  $31,759,766 

 

(a)  Non-income producing security.
(b)  Security was purchased pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration only to qualified institutional buyers. As of September 30, 2022, these securities had a total aggregate market value of $403,175, representing 1.27% of net assets.
(c)  Securities were purchased pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, which exempts securities offered and sold outside the United States from registration. Such securities cannot be sold in the United States without either an effective registration statement filed pursuant to Securities Act of 1933, or pursuant to an exemption from registration. These securities have been deemed liquid under guidelines approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees. At period end, the aggregate market value of those securities was $403,175, representing 1.27% of net assets.
See Notes to Financial Statements.  
14 centrefunds.com

 

 

Centre Funds Statements of Assets and Liabilities
  September 30, 2022

 

   Centre American Select Equity Fund   Centre Global Infrastructure Fund 
ASSETS:        
Investments, at value  $341,860,832   $31,725,995 
Foreign currency, at value (Cost $– and $2,070, respectively)       2,059 
Receivable for dividends   416,514    103,714 
Deposit with broker for options   6,197     
Receivable for fund shares sold   1,052,298     
Prepaid and other assets   47,891    13,048 
Total Assets   343,383,732    31,844,816 
LIABILITIES:          
Payable to investment adviser   181,669    9,210 
Payable to administrator   28,777    10,526 
Payable to transfer agent   26,260    17,100 
Payable for fund shares redeemed   471,424    6,423 
Accrued 12b-1 and service fees   102,413    14,816 
Payable for custodian fees   9,657    6,486 
Payable for printing   7,402    867 
Payable for legal and audit fees   21,365    14,301 
Payable to trustees   11,533    1,187 
Payable under the Chief Compliance Officer Services Agreement   5,241    534 
Other payables   12,054    3,600 
Total Liabilities   877,795    85,050 
NET ASSETS  $342,505,937   $31,759,766 
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:          
Paid-in capital  $322,753,262   $60,411,810 
Total distributable earnings/(accumulated deficit)   19,752,675    (28,652,044)
NET ASSETS  $342,505,937   $31,759,766 
INVESTMENTS, AT COST  $318,856,773   $31,410,649 
PRICING OF SHARES          
Investor Class          
Net Assets  $243,352,793   $27,275,294 
Shares outstanding   18,950,131    3,085,768 
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share  $12.84   $8.84 
Institutional Class          
Net Assets  $99,153,144   $4,484,472 
Shares outstanding   7,521,817    507,023 
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share  $13.18   $8.84 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.  
Annual Report | September 30, 2022 15

 

 

Centre Funds Statements of Operations
  For the Year Ended September 30, 2022

 

   Centre American Select Equity Fund   Centre Global Infrastructure Fund 
INVESTMENT INCOME:        
Dividends  $6,072,156   $1,415,818 
Foreign taxes withheld   (116,390)   (82,183)
Total Investment Income   5,955,766    1,333,635 
           
EXPENSES:          
Investment advisory fees   1,992,831    327,967 
Administration fees   232,446    46,838 
Transfer agent fees   94,939    67,563 
Custodian fees   31,235    22,619 
Legal fees   44,665    7,331 
Audit and tax fees   13,550    13,614 
Trustees' fees and expenses   52,639    8,906 
Registration/filing fees   52,289    35,897 
12b-1 fees (Investor Class)   506,857    82,553 
Shareholder service fees   273,392    27,566 
Printing fees   30,801    7,124 
Chief Compliance Officer services fees   58,187    9,463 
Recoupment of previously waived fees - Investor class   220,954     
Miscellaneous expenses   20,274    4,136 
Total expenses before waivers   3,625,059    661,577 
Fees waived/reimbursed by investment adviser (Investor Class) (Note 5)       (59,517)
Fees waived/reimbursed by investment adviser (Institutional Class) (Note 5)   (41,447)   (18,326)
Net Expenses   3,583,612    583,734 
Net Investment Income   2,372,154    749,901 
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN/(LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS, DERIVATIVES AND FOREIGN CURRENCIES:          
Net realized loss on investments and derivatives   (2,202,196)   (191,487)
Net realized gain/(loss) on foreign currencies   1,900    (28,470)
Total realized loss   (2,200,296)   (219,957)
Net change in unrealized depreciation on investments and derivatives   (40,366,558)   (4,231,609)
Net change in unrealized depreciation on foreign currencies       (4,050)
Total change in unrealized depreciation   (40,366,558)   (4,235,659)
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED LOSS ON INVESTMENTS, DERIVATIVES AND FOREIGN CURRENCIES:   (42,566,854)   (4,455,616)
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS  $(40,194,700)  $(3,705,715)

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.  
16 centrefunds.com

 

 

Centre American Select Equity Fund Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

   For The Year Ended September 30, 2022   For The Year Ended September 30, 2021 
OPERATIONS:        
Net investment income  $2,372,154   $343,280 
Net realized gain/(loss)   (2,200,296)   21,903,445 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)   (40,366,558)   20,565,695 
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   (40,194,700)   42,812,420 
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS:          
Investor   (21,253,776)   (6,630,906)
Institutional   (2,190,070)   (344,539)
Total distributions   (23,443,846)   (6,975,445)
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS:          
Investor Class          
Proceeds from sale of shares   173,177,205    6,951,194 
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions   20,750,611    6,495,564 
Cost of shares redeemed   (48,949,160)   (59,127,311)
Redemption fees   212,544    43,730 
Net (decrease)/increase from capital share transactions   145,191,200    (45,636,823)
Institutional Class          
Proceeds from sale of shares   184,687,613    14,896,759 
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions   1,967,802    286,344 
Cost of shares redeemed   (80,552,993)   (13,562,077)
Redemption fees   4,713    721 
Net increase from capital share transactions   106,107,135    1,621,747 
Net (decrease)/increase in net assets   187,659,789    (8,178,101)
NET ASSETS:          
Beginning of period   154,846,148    163,024,249 
End of period  $342,505,937   $154,846,148 
           
OTHER INFORMATION:          
Share Transactions:          
Investor Class          
Beginning shares   9,437,873    12,741,887 
Shares sold   11,475,454    516,139 
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends   1,462,340    507,863 
Shares redeemed   (3,425,536)   (4,328,016)
Ending shares   18,950,131    9,437,873 
Institutional Class          
Beginning shares   1,056,382    968,618 
Shares sold   11,963,066    1,043,411 
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends   135,617    22,026 
Shares redeemed   (5,633,248)   (977,673)
Ending shares   7,521,817    1,056,382 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.  
Annual Report | September 30, 2022 17

 

 

Centre Global Infrastructure Fund Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

   For The Year Ended September 30, 2022   For The Year Ended September 30, 2021 
OPERATIONS:          
Net investment income  $749,901   $789,847 
Net realized loss   (219,957)   (20,983)
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)   (4,235,659)   6,421,836 
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   (3,705,715)   7,190,700 
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS:          
Investor   (759,919)   (697,830)
Institutional   (151,642)   (139,251)
From return of capital          
Investor   (9,453)    
Total distributions   (921,014)   (837,081)
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS:          
Investor Class          
Proceeds from sale of shares   38,178    83,229 
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions   591,596    529,849 
Cost of shares redeemed   (3,974,348)   (6,969,707)
Redemption fees   239    3,283 
Net decrease from capital share transactions   (3,344,335)   (6,353,346)
Institutional Class          
Proceeds from sale of shares   262,361    561,996 
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions   143,190    124,763 
Cost of shares redeemed   (1,200,563)   (1,931,168)
Redemption fees   4    27 
Net decrease from capital share transactions   (795,008)   (1,244,382)
Net decrease in net assets   (8,766,072)   (1,244,109)
NET ASSETS:          
Beginning of period   40,525,838    41,769,947 
End of period  $31,759,766   $40,525,838 
           
OTHER INFORMATION:          
Share Transactions:          
Investor Class          
Beginning shares   3,411,897    4,054,414 
Shares sold   3,719    8,409 
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends   57,914    52,682 
Shares redeemed   (387,762)   (703,608)
Ending shares   3,085,768    3,411,897 
Institutional Class          
Beginning shares   584,641    711,901 
Shares sold   25,607    55,706 
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends   14,019    12,384 
Shares redeemed   (117,244)   (195,350)
Ending shares   507,023    584,641 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.  
18 centrefunds.com

 

 

Centre American Select Equity Fund Financial Highlights
Investor Class For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented.

 

   For the Year Ended September 30, 2022   For the Year Ended September 30, 2021   For the Year Ended September 30, 2020   For the Year Ended September 30, 2019   For the Year Ended September 30, 2018 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $14.73   $11.88   $10.55   $13.63   $13.05 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:                         
Net investment income/(loss)(a)   0.11    0.02    0.10    0.04    (0.01)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments(f)   0.27    3.40    2.25    (0.96)   2.20 
Total income/(loss) from investment operations   0.38    3.42    2.35    (0.92)   2.19 
                          
DISTRIBUTIONS:                         
Net investment income   (0.14)   (0.11)   (0.02)   (0.03)   (0.00)(b)
Net realized gains on investments   (2.15)   (0.46)   (1.00)   (2.13)   (1.61)
Total distributions   (2.29)   (0.57)   (1.02)   (2.16)   (1.61)
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL                         
(NOTE 4)   0.02    0.00(c)    0.00(c)    0.00(c)    0.00(c) 
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE   (1.89)   2.85    1.33    (3.08)   0.58 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $12.84   $14.73   $11.88   $10.55   $13.63 
                          
Total Return(d)   1.23%   29.60%   23.82%   (5.12%)   18.10%
                          
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                         
Net assets, end of period (000)  $243,353   $138,985   $151,342   $104,838   $129,231 
                          
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                         
Net investment income/(loss) including reimbursement/waiver   0.78%   0.17%   0.93%   0.32%   (0.06%)
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   1.46%   1.44%   1.56%   1.58%   1.60%
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   1.46%   1.46%   1.47%   1.45%   1.32%(e)
                          
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   138%   86%   94%   114%   87%

 

(a)  Calculated using the average shares method.
(b)  Less than $(0.005) per share.
(c)  Less than $0.005 per share.
(d)  Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been waived during the period. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
(e)  Effective January 29, 2018, the net expense limitation changed from 1.05% to 1.10%, excluding, among other fees and expenses, 12b-1 fees and shareholder service fees.
(f)  Realized and unrealized gains and losses per share in this caption are balancing amounts necessary to reconcile the change in net asset value per share for the period, and may not reconcile with the aggregate gains and losses in the Statement of Operations due to share transactions for the period.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.  
Annual Report | September 30, 2022 19

 
 

Centre American Select Equity Fund Financial Highlights
Institutional Class For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented.

 

   For the Year Ended September 30, 2022   For the Year Ended September 30, 2021   For the Year Ended September 30, 2020   For the Year Ended September 30, 2019   For the Year Ended September 30, 2018 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $15.01   $12.06   $10.66   $13.68   $13.05 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:                         
Net investment income(a)   0.18    0.09    0.20    0.09    0.04(b)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments(f)   0.30    3.45    2.23    (0.95)   2.21 
Total income/(loss) from investment operations   0.48    3.54    2.43    (0.86)   2.25 
                          
DISTRIBUTIONS:                         
Net investment income   (0.16)   (0.13)   (0.03)   (0.03)   (0.01)
Net realized gains on investments   (2.15)   (0.46)   (1.00)   (2.13)   (1.61)
Total distributions   (2.31)   (0.59)   (1.03)   (2.16)   (1.62)
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL                         
(NOTE 4)   0.00(c)    0.00(c)    0.00(c)    0.00(c)     
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE   (1.83)   2.95    1.40    (3.02)   0.63 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $13.18   $15.01   $12.06   $10.66   $13.68 
                          
Total Return(d)   1.78%   30.18%   24.42%   (4.61%)   18.55%
                          
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                         
Net assets, end of period (000)  $99,153   $15,861   $11,682   $2,932   $2,554 
                          
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                         
Net investment income including reimbursement/waiver   1.24%   0.65%   1.73%   0.84%   0.32%
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   1.05%   1.16%   1.26%   1.29%   1.27%
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   0.98%   0.98%   0.99%   0.95%   0.93%(e)
                          
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   138%   86%   94%   114%   87%

 

(a)  Calculated using the average shares method.
(b)  The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.
(c)  Less than $0.005 per share.
(d)  Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been waived during the period. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
(e)  Effective January 29, 2018, the net expense limitation changed from 0.95% to 0.90%, excluding, among other fees and expenses, shareholder service fees.
(f)  Realized and unrealized gains and losses per share in this caption are balancing amounts necessary to reconcile the change in net asset value per share for the period, and may not reconcile with the aggregate gains and losses in the Statement of Operations due to share transactions for the period.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.  
20 centrefunds.com

 
 

Centre Global Infrastructure Fund Financial Highlights
Investor Class For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented.

 

   For the Year Ended September 30, 2022   For the Year Ended September 30, 2021   For the Year Ended September 30, 2020   For the Year Ended September 30, 2019   For the Period January 29, 2018 (Inception) to September 30, 2018 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $10.14   $8.76   $10.18   $9.64   $10.00 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:                         
Net investment income(a)   0.19    0.18    0.25    0.22    0.12 
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   (1.25)   1.39    (1.41)   0.57    (0.29)
Total income/(loss) from investment operations   (1.06)   1.57    (1.16)   0.79    (0.17)
                          
DISTRIBUTIONS:                         
Net investment income   (0.24)   (0.19)   (0.26)   (0.25)   (0.15)
Net realized gains on investments                   (0.10)
Tax return of capital   (0.00)(b)                
Total distributions   (0.24)   (0.19)   (0.26)   (0.25)   (0.25)
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL (NOTE 4)   0.00(c)    0.00(c)    0.00(c)    0.00(c)    0.06 
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE   (1.30)   1.38    (1.42)   0.54    (0.36)
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $8.84   $10.14   $8.76   $10.18   $9.64 
                          
Total Return(d)   (10.77%)   18.00%   (11.49%)   8.41%   (1.18%)
                          
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                         
Net assets, end of period (000)  $27,275   $34,594   $35,527   $28,879   $14,843 
                          
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                         
Net investment income including reimbursement/waiver   1.89%   1.79%   2.62%   2.28%   1.87%(e)
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   1.75%   1.74%   1.89%   2.29%   2.34%(e)
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   1.57%   1.50%(f)  1.28%(g)  1.30%(h)  1.33%(e)
                          
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   39%   25%   75%   233%   49%(i)

 

(a)  Calculated using the average shares method.
(b)  Less than $(0.005) per share.
(c)  Less than $0.005 per share.
(d)  Total returns are for the period indicated and have not been annualized. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been waived during the period. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
(e)  Annualized.
(f)  Effective January 28, 2021, the net expense limitation changed from 1.05% to 1.25%, excluding, among other fees and expenses, 12B-1 fees and shareholder service fees.
(g)  Effective July 21, 2020, the net expense limitation changed from 1.25% to 1.05%, excluding, among other fees and expenses, 12b-1 fees and shareholder service fees.
(h)  Effective July 22, 2019, the net expense limitation changed from 1.05% to 1.25%, including, among other fees and expenses, 12b-1 fees and shareholder service fees.
(i)  Portfolio turnover rate for periods less than one full year have not been annualized.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.  
Annual Report | September 30, 2022 21

 
 

Centre Global Infrastructure Fund Financial Highlights
Institutional Class For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented.

 

   For the Year Ended September 30, 2022   For the Year Ended September 30, 2021   For the Year Ended September 30, 2020   For the Year Ended September 30, 2019   For the Period January 29, 2018 (Inception) to September 30, 2018 
                     
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $10.15   $8.77   $10.20   $9.67   $10.00 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:                         
Net investment income(a)   0.23    0.21    0.26    0.24    0.15 
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   (1.26)   1.40    (1.40)   0.57    (0.23)
Total income/(loss) from investment operations   (1.03)   1.61    (1.14)   0.81    (0.08)
                          
DISTRIBUTIONS:                         
Net investment income   (0.28)   (0.23)   (0.29)   (0.28)   (0.15)
Net realized gains on investments                   (0.10)
Tax return of capital   (0.00)(b)                
Total distributions   (0.28)   (0.23)   (0.29)   (0.28)   (0.25)
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL (NOTE 4)   0.00(c)    0.00(c)    0.00(c)         
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE   (1.31)   1.38    (1.43)   0.53    (0.33)
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $8.84   $10.15   $8.77   $10.20   $9.67 
                          
Total Return(d)   (10.51%)   18.35%   (11.30%)   8.59%   (0.78%)
                          
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                         
Net assets, end of period (000)  $4,484   $5,932   $6,243   $23,663   $1,424 
                          
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                         
Net investment income including reimbursement/waiver   2.28%   2.10%   2.60%   2.48%   2.28%(e)
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   1.51%   1.51%   1.63%   1.61%   7.96%(e)
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   1.18%   1.20%   1.02%(f)   1.01%(g)   1.16%(e)
                          
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   39%   25%   75%   233%   49%(h)

 

(a)  Calculated using the average shares method.
(b)  Less than $(0.005) per share.
(c)  Less than $0.005 per share.
(d)  Total returns are for the period indicated and have not been annualized. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been waived during the period. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
(e)  Annualized.
(f)  Effective July 21, 2020, the net expense limitation changed from 1.00% to 1.10%, excluding, among other fees and expenses, 12b-1 fees and shareholder service fees.
(g)  Effective July 22, 2019, the net expense limitation changed from 1.10% to 1.00%, including, among other fees and expenses, 12b-1 fees and shareholder service fees.
(h)  Portfolio turnover rate for periods less than one full year have not been annualized.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.  
22 centrefunds.com

 
 

Centre Funds Notes to Financial Statements
  September 30, 2022

 

 

1.  ORGANIZATION

 

 

Centre Funds (the “Trust”) was organized on March 17, 2011, as a Delaware statutory trust and is registered as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Prior to January 17, 2014, the Trust was known as Drexel Hamilton Mutual Funds. The Trust currently offers shares of beneficial interest (“shares”) of Centre American Select Equity Fund (the “American Select Equity Fund") and Centre Global Infrastructure Fund (the “Infrastructure Fund”) (each individually a "Fund" and collectively, the “Funds”). The affairs of the Trust are overseen by a Board of Trustees (the “Board” or the “Trustees”). The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to create additional series of the Trust and share classes.

 

Information in the accompanying Funds’ financial statements pertain to the Investor Class and Institutional Class shares offered by each of the Funds. All classes of shares have identical rights to earnings, assets, and voting privileges, except for class-specific expenses and exclusive rights to vote on matters affecting only individual classes.

 

2.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

 

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Funds in the preparation of the Financial Statements. These policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Each Fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standard

Codification Topic 946 Financial Services – Investment Companies.

 

(a)The Funds present or record their investments at fair value. Portfolio securities traded on a securities exchange or quoted by NASDAQ are valued at the last sale price on the principal exchange on which they are traded at the time the securities are valued, or, if not traded on that day, are valued at the closing bid price. In the case of portfolio securities listed on the NASDAQ, valuation is determined by using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. Securities traded in the OTC market and not quoted by NASDAQ are valued at their last sale price or, if there is no available price, the last bid price quoted by brokers that make markets in the securities as of the close of regular trading hours on the day the securities are being valued. Foreign securities are valued on the basis of quotations from the primary market in which they are traded, and are translated from the local currency into U.S. dollars using exchange rates as of the close of regular trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) or using methods determined by the Board. Short-term instruments with maturities of 60 days or less are valued at the price supplied by an approved independent pricing source. Options contracts listed for trading on a securities exchange or board of trade shall be valued at the mean of the highest bid and lowest asked quotation across the exchanges on which the option is traded. Futures contracts are ordinarily valued at the closing settlement price on the exchange on which they are primarily traded or based upon the current settlement price for a like instrument acquired on the day on which the instrument is being valued. Securities and other assets for which quotations are not readily available or deemed unreliable are valued at their fair value using methods determined by the Board. Fair valuation of a particular security is an inherently subjective process, with no single standard to utilize when determining a security’s fair value. As such, different mutual funds could reasonably arrive at a different fair value price for the same security. In each case where a security is fair valued, consideration is given to the facts and circumstances relevant to the particular situation. This consideration includes reviewing various factors set forth in the pricing procedures adopted by the Board and other factors as warranted. In making a fair value determination, factors that may be considered, among others, may include: the type and structure of the security; unusual events or circumstances relating to the security’s issuer; general market conditions; prior day’s valuation; fundamental analytical data; size of the holding; cost of the security on the date of purchase; nature and duration of any restriction on disposition; trading activities; and prices of similar securities or financial instruments. If a Fund invests in shares of other open-end mutual funds, including Money Market Funds, (each, an “Underlying Fund”), the Fund calculates the net asset value of its shares using the reported net asset value of the applicable Underlying Fund. For each Underlying Fund, the net asset value per share for a class of shares is determined as of the close of the Exchange on each day the Exchange is open by dividing the value of the Underlying Fund’s net assets attributable to that class by the number of outstanding shares of that class on that day.

 

(b)The per share net asset value (the “NAV”) of each Fund is calculated as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) each day the Exchange is open. The per share NAV is calculated by deducting from the Fund’s assets, the Fund’s liabilities, and then dividing the resulting net assets by the total number of shares outstanding, rounded to the nearest cent. The purchase price and redemption price per share is equal to the next determined NAV per share. Redemption of shares of American Select Equity Fund and Infrastructure Fund are subject to a redemption fee of 2% if redeemed within 90 days of purchase.

 

(c)The Trust treats each Fund as a separate entity for Federal income tax purposes. Each Fund intends to continue to qualify each year as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). By so qualifying, each Fund will not be subject to Federal income taxes to the extent that it distributes substantially all of its taxable or tax-exempt income, if any, for its tax year ending September 30. In addition, by distributing in each calendar year substantially all of its net investment income, capital gains and certain other amounts, if any, each Fund will not be subject to a Federal excise tax. Therefore, no provision is made by the Funds for Federal income or excise taxes. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends are paid or provided for in accordance with the applicable country’s tax rules and rates.

 

Annual Report | September 30, 2022 23

 
 

Centre Funds Notes to Financial Statements
  September 30, 2022

 

 

As of and during the year ended September 30, 2022, the Funds did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying financial statements. The Funds recognize the interest and penalties, if any, related to the unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in the Statements of Operations. During the year, the Funds did not incur any interest or penalties.

 

(d)Net realized gains and losses on investments are computed on the identified cost basis. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date or for certain foreign securities, as soon as information is available, and interest income is recognized on an accrual basis. The Funds amortize premium and accrete discount on investments utilizing the effective interest method. Foreign dividend income may be subject to foreign withholding taxes.

 

(e)A restricted security is a security that has been purchased through a private offering and cannot be resold to the general public without prior registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), or pursuant to the resale limitations provided by Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, or an exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. Whether a restricted security is illiquid is determined pursuant to guidelines established by the Board. Not all restricted securities are considered to be illiquid. As of September 30, 2022, the Funds did not hold any illiquid or restricted securities.

 

(f)The accompanying financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP, which require the use of estimates and assumptions made by management. These may affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

(g)Each Fund bears expenses incurred specifically by such Fund, as well as its’ pro rata portion of Trust expenses, which may be allocated on the basis of relative net assets or the nature of the services performed relative to applicability to each Fund. Expenses that are specific to a Fund or class of shares of a Fund are charged directly to that Fund or share class. All of the realized and unrealized gains and losses and net investment income of a Fund, other than class-specific expenses, are allocated daily to each class in proportion to its average daily net assets. Fees payable under the distribution (Rule 12b-1) plan and shareholder services plan are charged to each respective fund or share class.

 

(h)The Funds intend to distribute to shareholders all of their net income and/or capital gains on an annual basis. Income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

(i)A Fund may directly purchase securities of foreign issuers. Investing in securities of foreign issuers involves special risks not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. The risks include possible reevaluation of currencies, the inability to repatriate foreign currency, less complete financial information about companies and possible future adverse political and economic developments. Moreover, securities of many foreign issuers and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of securities of comparable U.S. issuers.

 

(j)The books and records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars. Investment valuations and other assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are converted each business day into U.S. dollars based upon current exchange rates. The portion of realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed and is not included in net realized and net change in unrealized gains or losses on foreign currencies.

 

(k)Idle cash may be swept into various overnight demand deposits and is classified as cash and cash equivalents on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. The Funds maintain cash in bank deposit accounts which, at times, may exceed United States federally insured limits. Amounts swept overnight are available on the next business day.

 

3.FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

 

The Funds normally use third-party pricing services to obtain market quotations for their portfolio investments. Securities and other assets for which representative market quotations are not readily available or which cannot be accurately valued using the Trust’s normal pricing procedures are valued at fair value as determined in good faith under policies approved by the Trustees. Fair value pricing may be used, for example, in situations where (i) an exchange-traded portfolio security is so thinly traded that there have been no transactions for that security over an extended period of time or the validity of a market quotation received is questionable; (ii) the exchange on which the portfolio security is principally traded closes early; or (iii) trading of the portfolio security is halted during the day and does not resume prior to the NAV calculation.

 

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Centre Funds Notes to Financial Statements
  September 30, 2022

 

The inputs used in determining the fair value of each Fund’s investments are summarized into three levels, as described in the following hierarchy:

 

 

  Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities that a Fund has the ability to access at the measurement date.
  Level 2 - Quoted prices which are not active, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable (either directly or indirectly).
  Level 3 - Significant unobservable prices or inputs (including the oversight of the Board and Centre Asset Management, LLC (the “Adviser”) in determining the fair value of investments) where there is little or no market activity for the asset or liability at measurement date.

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

 

The following is a summary of each Fund’s investments in the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2022:

 

Centre American Select Equity Fund

 

Investments in Securities at Value(a)  Level 1 - Quoted Prices   Level 2 - Other Significant Observable Inputs   Level 3 - Significant Unobservable Inputs   Total 
Common Stocks  $330,969,197   $   $   $330,969,197 
Purchased Options   8,053,900            8,053,900 
Short Term Investments   2,837,735            2,837,735 
Total  $341,860,832   $   $   $341,860,832 

 

Centre Global Infrastructure Fund

 

Investments in Securities at Value(a)  Level 1 - Quoted Prices   Level 2 - Other Significant Observable Inputs   Level 3 - Significant Unobservable Inputs   Total 
Common Stocks  $31,601,763   $   $   $31,601,763 
Short Term Investments   124,232            124,232 
Total  $31,725,995   $   $   $31,725,995 

 

(a) For detailed descriptions of sectors, industries, and countries, see the accompanying Schedules of Investments.

 

The following is a summary of valuation techniques and quantitative information used in determining the fair value of the Centre Global Infrastructure Fund’s Level 3 investments at September 30, 2022:

 

Asset Type  Balance as of September 30, 2021   Accrued Discount/ premium   Realized Gain/(Loss)   Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ Depreciation   Purchases   Sales Proceeds   Transfer into Level 3   Transfer Out of Level 3   Balance as of September 30, 2022   Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) included in the Statements of Operations attributable to Level 3 investments held at September 30, 2022 
Common Stocks  $25,521   $   $(20,478)  $(949)  $   $(4,094)  $   $   $   $ 
   $25,521   $   $(20,478)  $(949)  $   $(4,094)  $   $   $   $ 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments

 

A Fund may use derivative contracts, such as exchange-traded options and futures that are related to stock market or bond indices, foreign exchange, fixed income or other securities, or be exposed to exchange-traded derivative products. A Fund may invest its assets in derivatives and other instruments to help manage interest rate exposure, protect the Fund’s assets, or enhance returns. A Fund may also be exposed to certain exchange-traded derivative products, such as exchange-traded futures and options that are fully collateralized by cash or securities, for temporary cash management or investment transition purposes, or to hedge the risks of existing positions or overall capital protection.

 

Derivative Risk: One or more Funds may use derivatives, such as exchange-traded options and futures that are related to stock market or bond indexes, foreign exchange, fixed income or other securities or be exposed to exchange-traded derivative products. Loss may result from a Fund’s investments in exchange-traded futures and options. The value of derivatives in which a Fund may invest may rise or fall more rapidly than other investments. Other risks of investments in derivatives include imperfect correlation between the value of these instruments and the underlying assets; risks of default by the other party to the derivative transactions; risk that the transactions may result in losses that offset gains in portfolio positions; and risks that the derivative transactions may not be liquid. Derivatives, such as exchange-traded futures and options, contain “inherent” leverage because derivative contracts may give rise to an obligation on the part of a Fund for future payment or liabilities that are larger than the initial margin or premiums required to establish such positions. Combined with the volatility of derivatives prices, the leveraged nature of derivatives trading could cause a Fund to sustain large and sudden losses. The use of derivatives, such as futures and options, can lead to losses, including those magnified by leverage, particularly when derivatives are used to enhance return rather than mitigate risk. Correlation risk is the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index. Certain derivative instruments may be difficult to sell when the Adviser believes it would be appropriate to do so.

 

Annual Report | September 30, 2022 25

 
 

Centre Funds Notes to Financial Statements
  September 30, 2022

 

Derivatives may have little or no initial cash investment relative to their market value exposure and therefore can produce significant gains or losses in excess of their cost. This use of embedded leverage may allow a Fund to increase its market value exposure relative to its net assets and can substantially increase the volatility of the Fund’s performance.

 

Additional associated risks from investing in derivatives also exist and potentially could have significant effects on the valuation of the derivatives held by a Fund. Typically, a Fund may attempt to increase or decrease exposure to the risks associated with the securities or other traditional investments in which it invests. The risks associated with a Fund’s use of derivative instruments, including but not limited to volatility risk, correlation risk, segregation risk, and hedging risks, are additional risks that a Fund does not typically seek to increase or decrease exposure to. Examples of these associated risks are liquidity risk, which is the risk that a Fund will not be able to sell the derivative in the open market in a timely manner, and counterparty credit risk, which is the risk that the counterparty will not fulfill its obligation to the Fund.

 

Option Writing/Purchasing

A Fund may write or purchase option contracts to adjust risk and return of its overall investment positions, subject to any restrictions set forth in the Fund’s prospectus. When a Fund writes or purchases an option, an amount equal to the premium received or paid by the Fund is recorded as a liability or an asset and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written or purchased. Premiums received or paid from writing or purchasing options that expire unexercised are treated by a Fund on the expiration date as realized gains or losses. The difference between the premium and the amount paid or received on affecting a closing purchase or sale transaction, including brokerage commissions, is also treated as a realized gain or loss. If an option is exercised, the premium paid or received is netted to the cost of the purchase or proceeds from the sale in determining whether a Fund has realized a gain or loss on investment transactions. Risks from entering into option transactions arise from, among other things, the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms.

 

Futures

A Fund may use futures subject to any restrictions set forth in the Fund’s prospectus. A Fund may also be exposed to exchange-traded futures that are fully collateralized by cash or securities, for temporary cash management or investment transition purposes, or to hedge the risks of existing positions. To the extent that the Fund uses derivatives for temporary cash management, investment transition purposes, managing duration or to hedge the risks of existing positions, the Fund will be subject to the risks associated with such transactions. During the year ended September 30, 2022, the Funds did not invest in futures contracts.

 

Risk Exposure  Derivatives Statements of Assets and Liabilities Location  Fair Value 
Centre American Select Equity Fund        
Equity Contracts (Purchased Options)  Investments, at value  $8,053,900 
      $8,053,900 

 

The effect of derivative instruments on the Statements of Operations for the year ended September 30, 2022 (Net realized gain/(loss) on purchased options contracts are included in Net realized gain/(loss) on investments within the Statements of Operations):

 

Derivatives  Location of Gains/(Loss) On Derivatives Recognized In Income  Realized Gain/(Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income   Change in Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income 
Centre American Select  Equity Fund        
Equity Contracts (Purchased Options)  Net realized gain/(loss) on investments/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments  $(7,133,267)  $2,804,775 
      $(7,133,267)  $2,804,775 

 

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Centre Funds Notes to Financial Statements
  September 30, 2022

 

Volume of Derivative Instruments for the Funds during the year ended September 30, 2022, was as follows:

 

Derivative Type  Unit of Measurement  Monthly Average 
Centre American Select Equity Fund        
Purchased Option Contracts  Notional value of contracts outstanding  $123,452,300 

 

During the ordinary course of business, the Funds may enter into transactions subject to enforceable netting agreements or other similar arrangements (“netting agreements”). Generally, the right to offset in netting agreements allows the Funds to offset any exposure to a specific counterparty with any collateral received or delivered to that counterparty based on the terms of the agreement. Generally, the Funds manage their cash collateral and securities collateral on a counterparty basis.

 

4.BENEFICIAL INTEREST TRANSACTIONS

 

 

On September 30, 2022, there was an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest authorized for each Fund. Transactions in shares of beneficial interest are shown in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets.

 

Shares of American Select Equity Fund and Infrastructure Fund that are redeemed within 90 days of purchase may incur a 2% redemption fee deducted from the redemption amount. For the year ended September 30, 2022, redemption fees retained by these Funds are disclosed in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets.

 

Beneficial Ownership: The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a Fund creates a presumption of control of the Fund under Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of September 30, 2022, the following entities owned beneficially more than 25% of each Fund’s outstanding shares. The shares may be held under omnibus accounts (whereby the transactions of two or more shareholders are combined and carried in the name of the originating broker rather than designated separately). Any transaction by these investors could have a material impact on the share class.

 

Centre American Select Equity Fund Percentage
Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. 31.65%
National Financial Services, LLC 26.27%

 

5.INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENTS AND RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

 

The Adviser serves as the investment adviser to each Fund pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust on behalf of the Fund.

 

As compensation for the investment advisory services provided to the Funds, the Adviser is entitled to receive monthly compensation, subject to waivers, based on each Fund’s average daily net assets at the annual rate of:

 

Fund Management Fee Rate
Centre American Select Equity Fund (total net assets less than or equal to $1 billion) 0.75%
Centre American Select Equity Fund (total net assets over $1 billion) 0.70%
Centre Global Infrastructure Fund 0.85%

 

American Select Equity Fund

The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its advisory fees and/or reimburse other expenses of the Fund for not less than one year and until the next following effective date of the post-effective amendment to the registration statement of Centre Funds relating to the Fund (on or about January 29, 2023) to the extent necessary to limit the total operating expenses of the Fund including (but not limited to) investment advisory fees of the Adviser, but excluding, as applicable, any front-end or contingent deferred sales loads, taxes, leverage interest, distribution/service (Rule 12b-1) fees, shareholder services fees, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, and extraordinary expenses (such as litigation and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business) to an annual rate of 1.10% of the average daily net assets of the Investor Class shares and 0.90% of the average daily net assets of the Institutional Class shares (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”). The Expense Limitation Agreement may be terminated at any time, and without payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”), on behalf of the Fund, upon 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser, but may not be terminated by the Adviser without the consent of the Board. No recoupment will be made more than three years after the date that the applicable amount was initially waived or reimbursed by the Adviser, and the recoupment may not cause the Fund to exceed the then-existing expense limitation for that class at the time such waiver or reimbursement was made.

 

Annual Report | September 30, 2022 27

 
 

Centre Funds Notes to Financial Statements
  September 30, 2022

 

Infrastructure Fund

The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its advisory fees and/or reimburse other expenses of the Fund for an initial period of not less than one year and until the next following effective date of the post-effective amendment to the registration statement of Centre Funds relating to the Fund (on or about January 29, 2023) incorporating the Fund’s financial statements for that fiscal year to the extent necessary to limit the total operating expenses of the Fund, including (but not limited to) investment advisory fees of the Adviser, but excluding, as applicable, any front-end or contingent deferred sales loads taxes, leverage interest, distribution/service (Rule 12b-1) fees, shareholder services fees, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, and extraordinary expenses (such as litigation and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business) to an annual rate of 1.25% of the average daily net assets of the Investor Class shares and 1.10% of the average daily net assets of the Institutional Class shares. The Expense Limitation Agreement may be terminated at any time, and without payment of any penalty, by the Board, on behalf of the Fund, upon 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser, but may not be terminated by the Adviser without the consent of the Board. No recoupment will be made more than three years after the date that the applicable amount was initially waived or reimbursed by the Adviser, and the recoupment may not cause the Fund to exceed the then-existing expense limitation for that class at the time such waiver or reimbursement was made.

 

During the year ended September 30, 2022, the fee waivers and/or reimbursements were as follows:

 

Fund  Fees Waived and/or Reimbursed by Adviser 
Centre American Select Equity Fund     
Investor  $ 
Institutional   41,447 
Centre Global Infrastructure Fund     
Investor   59,517 
Institutional   18,326 

 

As of September 30, 2022, the balances of recoupable expenses for each Fund were as follows:

 

Fund  Expires 2023   Expires 2024   Expires 2025   Total 
Centre American Select Equity Fund                    
Investor  $464   $1,425   $   $1,888 
Institutional   12,046    23,001    41,447    76,494 
Centre Global Infrastructure Fund                    
Investor  $147,881   $85,269   $59,517   $292,667 
Institutional   77,189    19,898    18,326    115,414 
                     

 

Centre American Select Equity Fund Investor Class recovered $220,954 during the year ended September 30, 2022.

 

ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS” or the “Administrator”) serves as administrator to the Funds. ALPS receives a monthly fee paid by the Funds subject to a minimum monthly fee and is reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses. Pursuant to an administrative agreement with the Trust, ALPS provides operational services to the Funds including, but not limited to fund accounting and fund administration services and general assistance in each Fund’s operations.

 

ALPS, pursuant to a transfer agency and services agreement with the Trust, serves as transfer agent for the Funds. Under the transfer agency and services agreement, ALPS receives an annual minimum fee per Fund and a fee based upon each shareholder account and its account activity and is reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses.

 

ALPS, pursuant to a chief compliance officer services agreement with the Trust, provides chief compliance officer services to the Funds. Additionally, ALPS provides services in monitoring and testing the policies and procedures of the Trust in conjunction with requirements under Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act. ALPS receives an annual fee for these services and is reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses, pursuant to the chief compliance officer services agreement.

The Trust has adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Plan”). The Plan permits the Trust, on behalf of Investor Class shares of the Funds, to pay up to 0.25% per year to one or more entities for services rendered and expenses borne in connection with providing shareholder or distribution services with respect to the Investor class shares of each Fund.

 

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Centre Funds Notes to Financial Statements
  September 30, 2022

 

The Trust has also adopted a shareholder services plan for certain non-distribution shareholder services provided by financial intermediaries. With respect to each Fund, the shareholder services plan authorizes annual payment of up to 0.15% of the average daily net assets attributable to Investor Class shares of the Fund, and up to 0.10% of the average daily net assets attributable to Institutional Class shares of the Fund.

 

ALPS Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”) acts as the principal underwriter of the Funds pursuant to a distribution agreement with the Trust. No payments were retained by the Distributor by the Funds during the year ended September 30, 2022.

 

Officers of the Trust and Trustees who are “interested persons” of the Trust or the Adviser receive no salary or fees from the Trust. Each Trustee who is not an “interested person” receives an annual retainer of $20,000 paid quarterly. The Trust reimburses each Trustee and Officer for his or her travel and other expenses relating to attendance at Board meetings.

 

One Trustee is an officer of the Trust, and serves as Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of the Adviser.

 

6.FEDERAL INCOME TAX AND TAX BASIS INFORMATION

 

 

As of and during the year ended September 30, 2022, no Fund had a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits. The Funds file U.S. Federal, state, and local tax returns as required. The Funds’ tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years after the filing of the tax return but which can be extended to six years in certain circumstances. Tax returns for open years have incorporated no uncertain tax positions that require a provision for income taxes.

 

Components of Distributable Earnings on a Tax Basis: At September 30, 2022, there were no permanent differences that resulted in adjustments to distributable earnings (accumulated deficit) and additional paid-in capital.

As of September 30, 2022, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

 
 
Fund
  Accumulated
Capital and Other
Losses
    
Ordinary Income
Undistributed
   Net Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
   Other Cumulative
Effect of Timing
Differences
    
Total Accumulated
Earnings/(Deficit)
 
Centre American Select Equity Fund  $3,239,250   $769,246   $15,745,864   $(1,685)  $19,752,675 
Centre Global Infrastructure Fund   (28,134,260)       (517,784)   0    (28,652,044)

 

Elective Deferrals: Capital Losses and specified ordinary losses arising in the post-October period of the current fiscal year may be deferred to the next fiscal year if the fund elects to defer the recognition of these losses. When this election is made, any losses recognized during the period are treated as having occurred on the first day of the next fiscal year separate from and in addition to the application of normal capital loss carry forwards as described below.

 

The Funds elect to defer to the period ending September 30, 2023, capital losses recognized during the period November 1, 2021 - September 30, 2022 in the amount of:

 

Fund  Amount 
Centre Global Infrastructure Fund  $177,366 

 

The Funds elect to defer to the period ending September 30, 2023, late year ordinary losses in the amount of:

 

Fund  Amount 
Centre Global Infrastructure Fund  $110,270 

 

Under current law, capital losses maintain their character as short-term or long-term and are carried forward to the next tax year without expiration. As of the current fiscal year end, the following amounts are available as carry forwards to the next tax year:

 

Fund  Short-Term   Long-Term 
Centre Global Infrastructure Fund  $12,206,636   $15,639,988 

 

Distributions to Shareholders: The Centre American Select Equity Fund normally pays dividends and net investment income, if any, on an annual basis and the Centre Global Infrastructure Fund, intends to make monthly income distributions. Each Fund normally distributes capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. Income dividend distributions are derived from interest and other income each Fund receives from its investments, including distributions of short term capital gains. Capital gain distributions are derived from gains realized when each Fund sells a security it has owned for more than one year. Each Fund may make additional distributions and dividends at other times if the Adviser believes doing so may be necessary for each Fund to avoid or reduce taxes. Net investment income/ (loss) and net realized gain/ (loss) may differ for financial statement and tax purposes. The amounts and characteristics of tax basis distributable earnings/ (accumulated losses) are finalized at fiscal year-end.

 

Annual Report | September 30, 2022 29

 
 

Centre Funds Notes to Financial Statements
  September 30, 2022

 

The tax character of distributions paid for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 were as follows:

 

Distributions Paid From:  Ordinary Income   Long-Term Capital Gains   Return of Capital 
Centre American Select Equity Fund  $10,126,681   $13,317,165   $ 
Centre Global Infrastructure Fund   911,561        9,453 

 

The tax character of distributions paid for the fiscal year ended September 30,2021 were as follows:

 

Distributions Paid From:  Ordinary Income   Long-Term Capital Gains 
Centre American Select Equity Fund  $1,386,673   $5,588,772 
Centre Global Infrastructure Fund   837,081     

 

Unrealized Appreciation and Depreciation on Investments: The amount of net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) and the cost of investment securities for tax purposes, including short-term securities at September 30, 2022 are displayed in the table below. The difference between book and tax basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) for the Funds is primarily attributable to wash sales, mark-to-market on options and certain other investments.

 

Net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments based on federal tax cost were as follows:

 

   Tax Cost of Investments   Gross Unrealized Appreciation   Gross Unrealized Depreciation   Net Depreciation of Foreign Currency   Net Tax Unrealized Appreciation/(Depreciation) on Investments 
Centre American Select Equity Fund  $326,114,968   $45,638,229   $(29,892,365)  $   $15,745,864 
Centre Global Infrastructure Fund   32,237,770    3,141,988    (3,653,763)   (6,009)   (517,784)

 

7.PURCHASES AND SALES OF INVESTMENT SECURITIES

 

 

For the year ended September 30, 2022, the aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investment securities (excluding any U.S. Government Obligations, short-term securities, and purchased options and futures) were as follows:

 

Fund  Purchases of Securities   Proceeds From Sales of Securities 
Centre American Select Equity Fund  $572,631,106   $357,233,357 
Centre Global Infrastructure Fund   14,955,046    18,913,208 

 

8.INDEMNIFICATIONS

 

 

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities relating to their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the ordinary course of business, the Trust enters into contracts with service providers that may contain general indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

9.SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

 

The Funds have evaluated the need for disclosures and/or adjustments resulting from subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, no adjustments were required to the financial statements as of September 30, 2022.

 

30 centrefunds.com

 
 

Centre Funds Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of

Centre Funds

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, of Centre Funds comprising Centre American Select Equity Fund and Centre Global Infrastructure Fund (the “Funds”) as of September 30, 2022, the related statements of operations, the statements of changes in net assets, the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated below (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the Funds as of September 30, 2022, the results of their operations, the changes in net assets, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated below in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Fund Name Statements of Operations Statements of Changes in Net Assets Financial Highlights
Centre American Select Equity Fund For the year ended September 30, 2022 For the years ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 For the years ended September 30, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018
Centre Global Infrastructure Fund For the year ended September 30, 2022 For the years ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 For the years ended September 30, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and for the period January 29, 2018 (Inception) to September 30, 2018

 

Basis for Opinion  

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Funds in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement whether due to error or fraud.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2022, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

We have served as the Funds’ auditor since 2015.

 

COHEN & COMPANY, LTD.

Cleveland, Ohio

November 29, 2022

 

Annual Report | September 30, 2022 31

 
 

Centre Funds Additional Information
  September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES AND RECORDS

 

 

A description of the policies and procedures that the Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and information regarding how the Funds voted proxies during the most recent 12-month period ended September 30, is available without charge, upon request, by (1) calling the Funds at 1-855-298-4236 and (2) on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE POLICY

 

 

The Trust files, with regard to each Fund, with the SEC a complete schedule of investments for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Funds’ first and third fiscal quarters end on December 31 and June 30. Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain copies by calling the Funds at 1-855-298-4236.

 

TAX DESIGNATIONS

 

 

Qualified Dividend Income

The percentage of ordinary income dividends distributed during the calendar year ended December 31, 2021 are designated as qualified dividend income (QDI) as defined in Section 1(h)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code in the following percentages:

 

  Amount
Centre American Select Equity Fund 21.20%
Centre Global Infrastructure Fund 100.00%

 

Dividends Received Deduction

For corporate shareholders, the following ordinary dividends paid during the calendar year ended December 31, 2021 qualify for the corporate dividends received deduction:

 

  Amount
Centre American Select Equity Fund 18.91%
Centre Global Infrastructure Fund 55.31%

 

Pursuant to Section 852(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the following amounts were designated as long-term capital gain dividends:

 

  Amount
Centre American Select Equity Fund $ 13,410,193

 

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Centre Funds Trustees and Officers
  September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

Following is information regarding the Trustees and officers of the Trust. Those Trustees who are “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) by virtue of their affiliation with either the Trust or the Adviser are indicated in the table. The address of each Trustee and officer, unless otherwise indicated, is c/o Centre Funds, 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203.

 

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES1

 

Name, Year of Birth Position(s) Held with Funds or Trust Length of Time Served Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past 5 Years2

Dr. James L. Grant

1949

Trustee, Chairman Since 6/2011

Former Senior Associate Dean, College of Management, University of Massachusetts Boston, and Associate Professor of Accounting and Finance at University of Massachusetts Boston. Dr. Grant has served as an advisory analyst at major Wall Street firms including Credit Suisse Asset Management and GAM. Dr. Grant holds a Ph.D. in Business from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and he has been a featured speaker at industry conferences on value-based metrics. Dr. Grant has served on the editorial advisory board of The Journal of Portfolio Management and currently The Journal of Investing.

 

Dr. Grant has published several articles in finance and investment journals and he has contributed chapters to investment books. Dr. Grant is the author of Foundations of Economic Value Added (Second Edition), the co-author of Focus on Value: A Corporate and Investor Guide to Wealth Creation, and co-author and co-editor respectively of Equity Portfolio Management and Value-Based Metrics: Foundations and Practice.

2 None

Dr. Aloke Ghosh

1963

Trustee Since 6/2011 Distinguished Professor of Accounting at the Turner School of Accountancy, Belk College of Business, University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Between 2016 and 2017, Dr. Ghosh was on a Fulbright Distinguished Chair assignment, which was a joint US State Department and Fulbright Finland appointment, to Aalto University in Helsinki (Finland). In the past, served as the Accounting Academic Fellow at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and as a Visiting Professor at Aalto University (Finland), Bocconi University (Italy), Monash University (Australia), Columbia University, Emory University, NJIT, Hanken School of Economics (Finland), Tulane University, Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand), and Yonsei University (South Korea). Serves as an adviser to several leading hedge funds in the U.S. and around the world on accounting matters including serving as a Council Member at Gerson Lehrman Group. Dr. Ghosh holds a Ph.D. in Business and Economics from Tulane University, New Orleans. Dr. Ghosh regularly features as an invited speaker in different industry and academic conferences. 2 None

 

Annual Report | September 30, 2022 33

 
 

Centre Funds Trustees and Officers
  September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

Name, Year of Birth Position(s) Held with Funds or Trust Length of Time Served Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past 5 Years2

Joseph M. Marinaro

1958

Trustee Since 6/2012 Vice President, Wells Fargo Bank. 2022 – present. As part of the Independent Risk Management function, Mr. Marinaro serves as a Lead Operational Risk Officer covering the Wealth and Investment Management businesses. Founder, Managing Member of JMM Capital & Consulting LLC, 2013 to present. JMM Capital & Consulting LLC (“JMM”) is an independent consulting and advisory firm in the financial services industry. During the past five years, the firm has offered its services as an independent contractor through various third-party consulting firms including: Sionic, 2018-2022 and Linium SOS, 2014-2017. Mr. Marinaro serves as a Public Director of the Small Exchange, June 2019 – present. He serves as Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee and as a member of the Audit Committee for The Small Exchange. 2 None

 

1  An “Independent Trustee” is one who is not considered an “interested person” of the Trust, as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.
2  Other directorships held by a Trustee are limited to those of companies (i) with securities registered under section 12 (i.e., publicly traded companies) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), (ii) that make reports under section 15 of the Exchange Act, or (iii) are registered investment companies.

 

34 centrefunds.com

 
 

 

Centre Funds Trustees and Officers
  September 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

INTERESTED TRUSTEE & OFFICERS

 

Name, Year of Birth Position(s) Held with Funds or Trust Length of Time Served Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past 5 Years1

James A. Abate2

1965

Trustee, President, Secretary, and Treasurer Since 6/2011 Since 11/2013 Since 1/2016 Founder, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Centre Asset Management, LLC from 2006-present. 2 None

Theodore J. Uhl

1974

Chief Compliance Officer Since 6/2011 Mr. Uhl has been Deputy Compliance Officer of ALPS Fund Services Inc. since 2010. N/A N/A

 

1  Other directorships held by a Trustee are limited to those of companies (i) with securities registered under section 12 (i.e., publicly traded companies) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), (ii) that make reports under section 15 of the Exchange Act, or (iii) are registered investment companies.
2  Mr. Abate is an “interested person” of the Trust, as defined by the 1940 Act. Mr. Abate is considered an interested person of the Trust because he is the Managing Director of Centre Asset Management, LLC, the investment adviser to the Funds.

 

Annual Report | September 30, 2022 35

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

(b)Not Applicable.

 

Item 2. Code of Ethics.

 

(a)       The Registrant, as of the end of the period covered by this report, has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or any persons performing similar functions on behalf of the Registrant.

 

(b)       Not applicable.

 

(c)       During the period covered by this report, no amendments were made to the provisions of the code of ethics adopted in Item 2(a) above.

 

(d)During the period covered by this report, no implicit or explicit waivers to the provisions of the code of ethics adopted in Item 2(a) above were granted.

 

(e)Not applicable.

 

(f)The Registrant's Code of Ethics is attached as an Exhibit to this report.

 

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

 

The Board of Trustees of the Registrant has determined that the Registrant has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee. The Board of Trustees has designated Dr. Aloke Ghosh as the Trust's "audit committee financial expert," as defined in Form N-CSR under the 1940 Act, based on the Board's review of his qualifications. Dr. Ghosh is “independent” as defined in paragraph (a)(2) of Item 3 to Form N-CSR.

 

Item 4.  Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

(a)Audit Fees:  For the Registrant’s fiscal years ended September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021, the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the Registrant’s annual financial statements were $22,000 and $22,000, respectively.

 

(b)Audit-Related Fees:  For the Registrant’s fiscal years ended September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021, the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Registrant’s annual financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item were $0 and $0, respectively.

 

(c)Tax Fees:  For the Registrant’s fiscal years ended September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021, the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning were $5,000 and $5,000, respectively.  The fiscal years 2022 and 2021 tax fees were for services for dividend calculation, excise tax preparation and tax return preparation.

 

(d)All Other Fees:  For the Registrant’s fiscal years ended September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021, the aggregate fees billed by the principal accountant for services other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this item were $0 and $0, respectively.
  

 

(e)(1)   Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures:  All services to be performed by the Registrant's principal accountant must be pre-approved by the Registrant's audit committee.

 

(e)(2)   No services described in paragraphs (b) through (d) were approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

 

(f)Not applicable.

 

(g)The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the Registrant’s principal accountant for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021 were $0 and $0, respectively.

 

(h)Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Investments.

 

(a)The Schedule of Investments is included as part of the Report to Stockholders filed under Item 1 of this report.

 

(b)Not applicable to the registrant.

 

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s Board of Trustees.

 

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

(a)The Registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)).
  

 

(b)No changes in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) occurred during the Registrant’s second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 13. Exhibits.

 

(a)(1)The code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial offer is attached hereto as EX-13.A.1.

 

(a)(2)The certifications required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act, as amended, and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto as Ex99.Cert.

 

(a)(3)None.
  
(a)(4)Not applicable.

 

(b)The certifications by the Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto as Ex99.906Cert.

 

  

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

CENTRE FUNDS

 

By: /s/ James A. Abate  
  James A. Abate  
  President (Principal Executive Officer)  
     
Date: December 6, 2022  

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By: /s/ James A. Abate  
  James A. Abate  
  President (Principal Executive Officer)  
     
Date: December 6, 2022  

 

 

By: /s/ James A. Abate  
  James A. Abate  
  Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)  
     
Date: December 6, 2022